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FG hasn’t prepare for coronavirus epidemic— Senate

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Senator Ayo Akinyelure

The federal government has been condemned over poor preparation for the coronavirus epidemic also known as COVID-9, warning that the country should not to push its luck too far.

The upper legislative chamber equally expressed dismay that there was no testing centres in the entire North and the South East regions.
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, in a comment on a motion of urgent national importance about the disease during plenary, called on the federal government to do more in terms of preparations.
He said: “We are very lucky and fortunate, but we shouldn’t push our luck too far. We should be very observant of all those regulations the technical experts give us.
“There is need for federal government to do a little more, especially in the area of testing centres. The entire north and south-east have no testing centres and it shouldn’t be so.
“The federal government is supposed to do that, and we are prepared to support the federal government’s request is for money. Even for those established, we want to suggest that we continue to upgrade the standards”
“Also, for isolation centres the state governments are building, the ministry of health should come out with a standard which will be replicated in all the states.
“So, we need to through our committees, ensure we work with the ministry of health to work with the states to ensure the isolation centres are standardised.”
Raising the motion through Order 43 of Senate standing rule, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC Kwara Central), drew the attention of the Red Chamber to the fact that there was need to be more serious and roll out more machineries on ground to combat the epidemic.
According to him, God has been very kind to Nigeria in view of the massive and devastating effects of Corona Virus globally  but we don’t need to take anything for granted”
Oloriegbe, a medical doctor and the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, advised that “Nigerians need to increase the observance of the prevention control practices including avoidance of shaking of hands.”
“If it is possible, people should not travel to countries with high risk of the cases especially in Europe where many countries are affected, unless such trips are very important,” he added.
He suggested that “Nigeria should also consider disallowing non-Nigerians from countries of high risk from entering the country” adding that “government should also increase capacity about checking airports.”
“Currently, we have only five centres where testing can be done, the government has to step up the testing capacity, and provide support for state governments,” he lamented.
Oloriegbe explained that the virus spreads easily with not only body contacts, but shaking of hands, the very  reason, he suggested, hands shaking should stop for now.
He noted that  many people used to cough or sneeze on their hands and contacts  with such person, especially by handshake could easily spread the virus.
The lawmaker therefore advised everyone to always wash their hands for at least 20 seconds at regular interval

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